Mail-box.



S. G. COX.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. s, 1910.

960,157. Patented May 31,1910.

UNITE STATES ATEN @FFICE.

SAMUEL C. COX, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

MAIL-BOX.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL C. Cox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes, of which the following. is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in mail boxes.

The invention has for its object to provide improved means for quickly emptying the mail box, and for supporting the mail matter when the box is opened by the collector, whereby said mail matter will not be precipitated upon the ground or otherwise scat tered.

A further object is to provide means for allowing a clear view of and ready access to the interior of the box when the same is opened by the collector.

A further object is to provide means for elongating the bottom of the box, when opened, to form a chute for the precipitation of the mail matter.

A further object is to provide improved means for holding the parts in locked position.

A further object is to provide an improved mail box that is simple in construction, and capable of protecting the mail matter con tained therein from rain, dust and surreptitious removal.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of a mail box embodying my improvements, the same being shown in closed position. Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the parts when opened for the collection of mail matter. Fig. 3 is an end view with parts of the end wall of the box broken away. Fig. 4': is a view illustrating a detail.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a mail box provided with the usual deposit opening 11, the bottom section 12 and the door section 13. The said door section is hinged to the bottom section 12 at the forward edge thereof, as indicated at 14, and the rear edge of the bottom section is hinged at 15 to the rear wall of the box. The bottom section is provided with end plates 16, having curved slots 17 adapted to receive pins or lugs 18 projecting inwardly from the ends of the box, said slots being curved Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 5, 1910.

Patented May 31, 1910.

Serial No. 547,517.

on an are having its center at the rear hinge 15. The door section 13 is also provided with end plates 19 adapted to slide between the end plates 16 and the adjacent ends of the box, said end plates 19 being provided with recesses 20 adapted to fit over the pins 18 when the box is closed. In this connection it will be noted that when the recesses 20 are in engagement with the lugs 18 a support is provided for the forward edge of the bottom section, independent of the lock 22. The bottom section is normally held in closed position by means of springs 21 connected at one end to the end plate 16 and at the other end to a suitable projection lo cated within the box.

In order to prevent the weight of the mail matter from throwing the front section forward when released from the usual lock 22, I provide a suitable tension device located adjacent the hinge connection 1 1. This tension device comprises a lever 23 pivoted to one of the end plates 16 and having a curved arm normally conforming to the curvature of the slot 17, one edge of said arm being serrated and adapted to engage serrations on the adjacent pin 18. This lever is normally held inoperative when the box is closed, by a spring 2% engaging a finger or projection of said lever. The adjacent end plate 19 is provided with a lip or flange 26 adapted to intercept the finger 25 as the door section is moved outwardly. This action does not take place, however, until the door section is moved to the limit of its movement, the bottom section being supported by the spring when the door section is disengaged from lugs 18. As soon as the flange 26 engages finger 25 and the operator allows the door section to drop, the additional weight and momentum of the latter are compensated for by reason of the serrated portion of the lever 23 engaging the lug 18 and acting as a brake, thereby preventing movement of the bottom section, except when the door section is rocked or oscillated. l/Vhen the door section has been moved to a position in alinement with the bottom section, lever 23 will act as a stop, but if desired a stop lug 27 may be placed on the end plate 19 to engage a corresponding lug on the end plate 16, said lug being preferably enlarged to form a hook to support a mail bag.

It is obvious that while I have illustrated and described my invention as particularly applicable to mail boxes, I do not desire to limit myself in this respect, as it is obvious that the same may be applied to various other receptacles without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus explained the nature of my invention, and described a manner of con structing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use, what I claim is:

l. A mail box comprising a casing, a bottom section pivotally connected to the lower edge of one wall of said casing, a door section pivotally connected to the free edge of said bottom section, means for limiting the relative movements of said bottom and door sections, whereby the two are brought into alinement when the door section is opened, and means for supporting said bottom section during the opening of the door section.

2. A mail box comprising abody having its end walls provided with lugs, a pivot-ally supported bottom section, and a door section pivotally connected to said bottom section and having end plates provided with recesses adapted to fitover said lugs to sup port the bottom section when the box is closed.

3. A mail box comprising a body having its end walls provided with lugs, a pivotally supported bottom section a door section pivotally connected to said bottom section and having end plates provided with recesses adapted to fit over said lugs to support the bottom section when the box is closed, and means for supporting said bottom section when said recess is out of engagement with said lug. I

t. A mail box comprising a body having its end walls provided with lugs, a pivotall y supported bottom section, and a door section pivotally connected to said bottom section and having end plates provided with recesses adapted to fit over said lugs to support the bottom section when the box is closed, means for limiting the relativemovement of said sections, whereby the two are held in alinement when the box is opened, and means for supporting said bottom section when said recess is out of engagement with said lug.

5. A mail box provided with a pivoted bottom section and a door section pivoted to said bottom section, means for limiting the relative movement of said sections, whereby the two are in alinement when the box is open, and means for retarding the opening movement of said bottom section.

(5. A mail box comprising a body having its end walls provided with lugs, a pivotally supported bottom section limited in its movement by said lugs, adoor section pivotally connected to said bottom section, and a braking device carried by said bottom section and adapted to engage one of said lugs when the door section is opened.

7. A mail box comprising a body having its end walls provided with lugs, a pivotally supported bottom section limited in its movement by said lugs, a door section pivotally supported by said bottom section a braking device carried by said bottom section and adapted to engage one of said lugs when the door section is opened, and means for rendering said braking device inoperative as the box is closed.

8. A mail box comprising a body having its end walls provided with lugs, a pivotally supported bottom section limited in its movement by said lugs, a door section pivotally connected to said bottom section, a serrated lever carried by said bottom section acting against said lover, a spring, and means carried by the door section for moving said lever against the tension of said spring when the box is opened to cause the same to engage one of said lugs.

9. A mail box comprising a body having its end walls provided with lugs, a pivotally supported bottom section limited in its movement by said lugs, a door section pivotally supported by said bottom section, and a braking device carried by said bottom sec-- tion and adapted to engage one of said lugs as the door section is opened, and means for supporting said bottom section when the box is open.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL C. COX. l/Vitnesses WM. S. Honors, ELMER KINTZ. 

